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IN A RECENT paper Mr. Runciman concludes by inviting replies to his argument that it is logically and conceptually useful to employ the tripartite distinction between `class' `status' and `power' in the analysis of social stratification. Mr. Runciman does not, of course, deny the existence of links between these three dimensions, but suggests that such links must be seen contingent empirical relationships and not necessary logical ones. I hope that the following paper will provide such a reply. It must be clear that the following criticism is directed, in the main, to those parts of the paper in which Mr. Runciman is concerned with the logical and conceptual problem. The essay in question also contains a clear and valuable assessment of the problems encountered in any attempt to measure the three types of inequality. In the first part of the paper I propose to give a critical assessment of certain central aspects of Mr. Runciman's argument and, in the second part, I will put forward a very brief formulation of what I consider to be a more meaningful alternative view of the relationships between class, status, and power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the book "Strikes and Industrial Relations: Britain and Scandinavia," by G.K. Ingham. Although it is said that Ingham underestimated the level of conflict in present day Sweden critics ultimately agrees that the differences between Britain and Scandinavia, in this respect are so marked as to require an explanation. Further, the criticism of his theoretical scheme does not prevent his use of it for his own analysis of recent developments in Sweden. Critics suggests that there are certain problems with his evidence for the decline of the strike in Sweden. He readily accepts this (as is clear from his book "Strikes and Industrial Conflict,"). However critics point out that the recent increase in strike activity in Sweden indicates a possible reversal of the downward post 1945 trend or, at least, `would seem to make the "withering hypothesis" untenable'. Ingham's use of the term 'withering' was, perhaps, unfortunate, but it was used to provide continuity with other researchers whose work provided the starting point for his own.